Living in Old Lyme, CT
Old Lyme is a shoreline town in New London County, Connecticut, on the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound, with Lyme Street's museums and galleries and I-95 through the center.
Old Lyme at a glance
- Median sale price
- $699,000+12.7% vs last year 105 sales, last 12 months
- Property tax rate
- 16.86 mills town-wide, FY2027
- Estimated yearly tax
- ~$8,200 median-priced home
- Population
- 7,721 2024 Census estimate
- Land area
- 23.0 sq mi 336 per sq mi
What it is like in Old Lyme
Old Lyme is in New London County and has 23.01 square miles of land and a population of 7,721. It borders Old Saybrook, East Lyme, Lyme and Essex. The Connecticut River is its western boundary and Long Island Sound is to the south.
The area was set off from Lyme in 1855 as South Lyme and renamed Old Lyme in 1857. The Florence Griswold House hosted American Impressionist painters in the early 20th century and is now the Florence Griswold Museum. The Old Lyme Historic District on Lyme Street is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The south of town is flat with tidal marsh, and the north is rocky and hilly. Rogers Lake lies partly in Old Lyme.
Outdoor places in town include Old Lyme Green, Hains Park, Cross Lane Recreation Area, Great Island Nature Area, Ferry Landing State Park, Mile Creek Preserve and Watch Rock Preserve. Boat launches serve the Four Mile River, Great Island, the Lieutenant River and Rogers Lake.
Lyme Street holds the Florence Griswold Museum at 96 Lyme Street, the Lyme Art Association at 90 Lyme Street and the Side Door Jazz Club at the Old Lyme Inn. Halls Road has The Hangry Goose and the Hideaway Restaurant & Woodfire Pizza, and the Chestnut Grille is at 100 Lyme Street. The Florence Griswold Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday.
Getting around from Old Lyme
| Drive to | Time | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 61 min | 45 |
| New Haven | 50 min | 36 |
| Stamford | 104 min | 75 |
| New York City (Midtown) | 158 min | 111 |
| Boston | 156 min | 123 |
| Providence | 95 min | 73 |
| Bradley Airport (BDL) | 83 min | 59 |
Rail stations nearby
- Old Saybrook 3.8 mi CTrail Hartford Line, Amtrak
- Westbrook 7.6 mi Shore Line East, CTrail Hartford Line
Highways and routes
Interstate 95 runs through the center of town, Route 1 runs mostly in the north, and Route 156 passes through the west and south.
Old Lyme has no rail station of its own. The nearest are Old Saybrook (CTrail Hartford Line and Amtrak, 3.8 miles in a straight line) and Westbrook (Shore Line East and CTrail Hartford Line, 7.6 miles in a straight line). Drive times from Old Lyme: Hartford 61 minutes (45 miles), New Haven 50 minutes (36 miles), Stamford 104 minutes (75 miles), Midtown New York City 158 minutes (111 miles), Boston 156 minutes (123 miles), Providence 95 minutes (73 miles) and Bradley Airport 83 minutes (59 miles).
Schools in Old Lyme
4 public schools in Regional School District 18. Which one serves an address depends on the district, so confirm with them.
Elementary 1
- Mile Creek
Middle 1
- Lyme-Old Lyme
High school 1
- Lyme-Old Lyme High School
Other 1
- Center School
Grades, number of students. Hover a school for its address.
For report cards, enrollment trends and spending per student, look up Regional School District 18 on the state's EdSight site.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data. We do not rate or rank schools.
Eat, drink and explore in Old Lyme
Open Old Lyme in Google Maps →Eat and drink 5
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Drive-in near the beaches serving seafood, burgers, breakfast, lunch, dinner and ice cream.
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Restaurant and pub serving American dishes and wood-fired pizza, with a private party room.
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Inn with a restaurant and bar serving contemporary New England food, next to the Side Door jazz club.
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Dinner restaurant and lounge in an inn building dating to 1756, beside the Lieutenant River.
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Waterfront restaurant on the Lieutenant River serving breakfast and lunch, including eggs, burgers, salads and wraps.
Things to do and see 3
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Museum in the former boardinghouse of the Lyme Art Colony, with art galleries and gardens along the Lieutenant River.
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Art association founded in 1914 that holds exhibitions, classes and workshops in its galleries.
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Small jazz club with a full bar inside the Old Lyme Inn, with live shows most weekends.
Parks, preserves and trails 32
Show 18 more parks and conservation parcels
Parks and open space © OpenStreetMap contributors. Places to eat and visit last checked October 2026. These are not paid placements; they are simply our selection. Hours and menus change, so check before you go.
Old Lyme housing market
Over the last 12 months, 105 homes sold in Old Lyme with a median sale price of $699,000 and a median of 14 days on market. There are 28 homes for sale right now.
Homes sold for a median of $350 per square foot. The typical home sold for 99% of its list price, and the median sale price is up 12.7% from the year before. At the current pace of sales, the homes for sale would last about 3.2 months.
Old Lyme's town-wide property tax rate is 16.86 mills (FY2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $8,200 a year. Special taxing districts, such as fire districts, can add to this, and a home's actual assessment may differ from its sale price.
Source: SmartMLS, residential sales (single-family, condo and multi-family); mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. Updated November 10, 2026.
Homes for sale in Old Lyme
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Questions about Old Lyme
What is the median home price in Old Lyme, CT?
The median sale price in Old Lyme is $699,000, based on 105 home sales in the last 12 months (SmartMLS). Updated November 10, 2026.
What is the property tax rate in Old Lyme, CT?
Old Lyme's town-wide property tax rate is 16.86 mills (fiscal year 2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $8,200 a year. Special taxing districts can add to this.
How far is Old Lyme, CT from Hartford?
Old Lyme is about 45 miles and a 61-minute drive from downtown Hartford, measured from the town center without traffic.
How far is Old Lyme, CT from New York City?
Old Lyme is about 111 miles from Midtown Manhattan, roughly a 158-minute drive without traffic.
Is there a train station in Old Lyme, CT?
The closest passenger rail station we have on record is Old Saybrook (CTrail Hartford Line, Amtrak) about 3.8 miles from the center of Old Lyme. Check the operator's schedule for current service.
What is the population of Old Lyme, CT?
Old Lyme has about 7,721 residents (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, 2024) and covers 23.0 square miles.
How many public schools are in Old Lyme, CT?
Old Lyme has 4 public schools in Regional School District 18. Which school serves an address depends on the district's boundaries, so confirm with the district.
How many homes are for sale in Old Lyme, CT?
There are 28 homes for sale in Old Lyme right now, per SmartMLS, as of November 10, 2026.
What is the Florence Griswold Museum?
It is the former boardinghouse of the Lyme Art Colony at 96 Lyme Street, open Tuesday through Sunday.
Is there a train station in Old Lyme?
No. Old Saybrook (CTrail Hartford Line and Amtrak) is 3.8 miles away in a straight line, and Westbrook (Shore Line East and CTrail Hartford Line) is 7.6 miles.
Which highways serve Old Lyme?
Interstate 95 runs through the center of town, Route 1 runs mostly in the north, and Route 156 passes through the west and south.
What parks and preserves are in Old Lyme?
Hains Park, Old Lyme Green, Cross Lane Recreation Area, Great Island Nature Area, Ferry Landing State Park, Mile Creek Preserve and Watch Rock Preserve are among them.
How far is Old Lyme from New Haven?
New Haven is 50 minutes (36 miles) by car, and Providence is 95 minutes (73 miles).
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